2026 State Elections: Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Arizona Face Major Leadership Changes

Three states are undergoing significant 2026 election cycles involving top state offices. In Wyoming, Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder is running for governor, leaving her current seat open, with three Republicans and two Democrats seeking to succeed her; Wyoming's primary election is scheduled for August 18, 2026. In Wisconsin, the incumbent governor, state Senate majority leader, and state Assembly speaker have all announced they will not seek re-election in 2026, marking the first time since 2010 that all three top executive and legislative positions will turn over simultaneously; Wisconsin's fall primary is set for August 11, 2026, with all 99 Assembly seats and 17 odd-numbered Senate seats on the ballot. In Arizona, Republicans held a primary on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to select nominees for governor and other statewide offices currently held by Democrats. Each state's electoral process is proceeding on its own separate timeline, with Arizona's Republican primary occurring earliest among the three, followed by Wisconsin's fall primary on August 11 and Wyoming's primary on August 18. The Wyoming superintendent race has drawn five candidates across two parties. The Wisconsin cycle is notable for the scale of turnover, as three of the state's most powerful officeholders are exiting simultaneously, affecting both statewide executive leadership and legislative control given that all Assembly seats and a majority of Senate seats are contested. Further developments remain pending in all three states, including which candidates will emerge from Wyoming's August primary, the outcomes of Wisconsin's fall primary and subsequent general election for governor and legislative leadership, and the results of Arizona's broader primary contest beyond the Republican gubernatorial nomination. The specific candidates involved in Arizona's Republican primary, as well as the full slate of Wyoming and Wisconsin candidates beyond those named, are not detailed in the available reporting. The eventual electoral outcomes and their implications for party control in each state remain unresolved pending further primary and general election results.